FLOOD01339 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Special City of Page 5 H. 1. Environmental Clearance Worksheet Loveland, Colorado Impact of Environment on Project (continued) c, Aesthetic Environment (1) Beneficial Impacts The terrain of the canyon is such that cosmetic treatment of the pipeline and power plant building will be required to compliment it. Th i s trea tment will result in a mi nor cos t increase. (2) Adverse Impacts - None 2. Impact of Project on Envi ronment a. Physical Environment (1) Beneficial Impacts (a) The reservoir provided by the diversion dam will create a fish habitat that is far superior to the present habitat in the Big Thompson river and will be stocked as it was prior to the disaster. (b) The proposed diversion dam will be more stable than the pre- disaster structure. Therefore, it will provide greater protection to the environs in flooding situations, (2) Adverse Impacts (a) The first paragraph on Page 21 of the applicant's environmental assessment report states that a controlled gate will allow approximately two (2) cubic feet per second (CFS) of water to flow between the dam and the tailrace of the power plant and that the flow will support fish life. This is incorrect according to the Colorado Division of Wildlife because a flow of 2-5 CFS will not support fish life, although such a flow will help to maintain aquatic insect life between the dam and the tailrace, during 10\'1 flow periods. In addition, the recent design changes will allow a minimum flow of approximately 3 CFS instead of 2 CFS. Even though the proposed minimum releases will not allow for fish life in this 1.6 mile stretch of the Big Thompson river, it should be noted that the predisaster flow did not allow for fish life either. There will be some short term noise, air and water pollution during construction due to the operation of heavy construction equipment near the river. Water pollution will be relatively light and will consist of sand and silt generated at the dam site by heavy equipment. This will be kept to a minimum by constructing settlement ponds directly below the dam site thus slowing the water velocity to allow the solids to settle out. Accumulated solids will then be mechanically removed and hauled away by truck, There will be no ~ term effects of such pollution, -- ---- (b)